Dadhadagreencomb.HeboughtitwhenhemarriedMum.Everynight,hewouldhandmehis26andsay,“Goodgirl,helpDaddycleanit,OK?”

Iwas27todoit.Atagefive,thisdulltaskbroughtmesuch28.Iwouldexcitedlyturnthetap29andbrushthecombcarefully.SatisfiedthatI’ddoneagoodjob,IwouldhappilyreturnthecombtoDad.Hewould30affectionatelyatmeandplacethecombonhiswallet.

Twoyearslater,Dadstartedhisown31,whichwasn’tdoingsowell.Thatwaswhenthingsstartedto32.Daddidn’tcomehomeasearlyandasmuchasheusedto.MumandIbecame33withhimforplacingourfamilyintrouble.With34,anuncomfortablesilencegrewbetweenus.

Aftermygraduation,Dad’sbusinesswasgettingbackontrack.Onmy28thbirthday,Dadcamehome35.AsusuallyIhelpedhimcarryhisbagsintohisstudy.WhenIturnedtoleave,hesaid,“Hey,wouldyouhelpme36mycomb?”Ilookedathimawhile,then37thecombandheadedtothesink.

Ithitmethen:why,asachild,38Dadcleanhiscombwassuchapleasure.Thatroutine(习惯)meantDadwashomeearlyto39theeveningwithMumandme.It40ahappyandlovingfamily.

IpassedthecleancombbacktoDad.Hesmiledatmeand41placedhiscombonhiswallet.Butthistime,Inoticedsomething42.Dadhadaged.Hehadwrinklesnexttohiseyeswhenhesmiled,43hissmilewasstillas44asbefore,thesmileofafatherwhojustwantedagood45forhisfamily.